Former Alabama defensive back Deshea Townsend is returning to his home state, having taken the job as cornerbacks coach at Mississippi State.

Townsend, who also starred at South Panola High School in Batesville, Miss., and spent 13 years in the NFL, replaces Melvin Smith, who left in December for Auburn. The Bulldogs confirmed the hire on Friday afternoon.

"Deshea
will bring an energy and excitement to our defensive backfield and entire
team," MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "His experience in the National Football League is valuable,
and his roots in Mississippi made him an obvious choice for our program."

The 37-year-old Townsend spent the past two years as an assistant defensive backs coach with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. He played his first 12 NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (winning two Super Bowl rings) before retiring after spending the 2010 season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Townsend was a four-year starter at cornerback at Alabama (1994-97). He played on the same high school team as future Crimson Tide teammate Dwayne Rudd, and the two combined to lead South Panola to the first of its Mississippi-record 10 state championships in 1993.

"It's
great to be heading home again," Townsend said. "Coach Mullen and his staff
have built a solid program and I'm excited to join the team and hit the ground
running."